Mobile Laboratory Improves Air Quality Measurements in Sublette County

October 25, 2010 — University of Wyoming researchers in the College of Engineering and
Applied Science have a powerful new instrument to monitor air quality
levels in Sublette County.

Researchers in the Department of Atmospheric Science recently unveiled
an upgrade of a mobile air quality laboratory that for two years has
been used to monitor and help predict high ozone levels in the area.

This upgrade has added a system for measuring for volatile organic
compounds, essential for better understanding of ozone formation, says
Robert Field, one of the project’s principal investigators. This system
adds to a suite of standard trace gas monitors and meteorological
equipment.

The upgraded laboratory will be deployed later this month at the
Pinedale Anticline in Sublette County as part of a project jointly
funded by the Pinedale Anticline Project Office and the UW School of
Energy Resources (SER).

“For the past two years, Department of Atmospheric Science researchers
have conducted important measurements that define the scope of ozone
episodes and the behavior of methane, for the Wyoming Department of
Environmental Quality (WDEQ),” Field says.

"Air quality is clearly a concern for new energy development. This
mobile laboratory is intended to aid in accurately assessing the impact
of development on air quality," says Mark Northam SER director.

The forthcoming measurement campaign, known as the Pinedale Anticline
Spatial Air Quality Assessment, is designed to assist the WDEQ Air
Quality Division with its air quality management related to the
elevated levels of ozone that have been observed in Sublette County,
Field says. The project is scheduled to run for two years.

"State of the art trace level measurements that show the distribution of
key compounds are essential to understand ozone formation,” he says.
“Besides the unique laboratory facility, the project will use stainless
steel air sample collection canisters and other passive samplers over a
six -month monitoring period.”

Another principal investigator, UW Atmospheric Science Professor Derek
Montague, says,
"The mobile facility provides the significant advantage of being able to
measure ozone precursors at multiple sites of interest rather than
being restricted to a single location as for stationary laboratories.”

This work has added a new emphasis to the traditional work of the
Atmospheric Science Department. Department head Al Rodi says the
department “always strives to provide the highest quality data whether
from aircraft and balloon platforms, or from the upgraded mobile
laboratory."

Robert Field demonstrating lab capabilities to
President for Research and Economic Development
Bill Gern.